Venice Biennale President Calls EU Withdrawal of Funding Over Russia ‘Entirely Political, Certainly Not Legal’

The Venice Biennale will not exclude Russia from its events due to political pressure, the foundation’s president said Thursday in a public address criticizing the European Union’s recent confirmation that it will suspend a €2 million ($2.3 million) grant. The withdrawal of funding was made in response to Russia’s participation in this year’s Biennale for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During the opening of the 2026 Venice Film Festival, Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco said the EU ”was a fellow traveler with whom we shared part of a journey, and who is now leaving us for reasons that are entirely political, certainly not legal, and still less cultural.” The news was first reported by Reuters. Earlier this week, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) announced the suspension of funding after a legal review determined that EU taxpayers’ money should be spent on initiatives aligned with democratic values, which it said Russia does not uphold. The decision echoes a recommendation from the European Commission, which said that “diversity and freedom of expression” are “not respected in today’s Russia.” The Venice Biennale, a prestigious arts exhibition held every two years, includes national pavilions representing countries from around the world. The Biennale has stressed that EU funding accounts for only a sliver of its budget and that some of the money supported projects unrelated to Russia. “We are called here to pursue international research in the arts and to respond to their demands. Otherwise we would betray the principles of autonomy, freedom of expression, research, creativity, and imagination that have defined this institution for 131 years,” Buttafuoco added. Russia’s participation has been a flashpoint for debate within EU creative and political circles since before the Biennale opened in early May. Some 22 high-ranking politicians representing European nations signed an open letter calling Russia’s presence “deeply troubling.” In April, Ukraine imposed sanctions on five Russian cultural figures involved in organizing the country’s contribution. That same month, the European Commission gave the Biennale 30 days to “clear its name” over Russia’s presence. In a letter sent to the Biennale at the time, the Commission said it believed “the pavilion could serve as a platform for messages sponsored” by Russia or “otherwise contribute to the circumvention of EU sanctions.” The Biennale said it could not exclude Russia from the festival, arguing that doing so would amount to censorship. The position appeared to conflict with statements the Biennale made in 2022, when it expressed support for Ukraine after Russia’s artist representatives withdrew in protest of the war waged by their country, further fueling criticism. The Kremlin meanwhile denounced the European Commission, telling the state-run TASS news agency, “As regards the Venice Biennale, I can only express regret over ongoing attempts to cancel our culture in other countries.” The Biennale opening dates were marked by protests against the Russian and Israeli pavilions. Activists in pink balaclavas led by Nadya Tolokonnikova and other members of Pussy Riot, together with the feminist dissent group FEMEN, shot smoke flares and waved Ukrainian flags outside the Russian pavilion, chanting anti-war slogans.